LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Illegals Drain Economy

After reading the letter from Mr. Deron Mikal, I have concluded that he does not care at all for the American worker. All he seems interested in getting something cheap. Based on his way of thinking, why should we have any labor in this country? Let's just outsource it to someone who can do it cheaper.

He also doesn't seem to understand that these people are illegal; they do not belong in this country. If they want to work here, then do so by legal means. A recent report from the Congressional Budget Office revealed that illegals contribute nothing to the economy and are, in fact, leeching money and resources that should go to citizens or legal residents.

He also doesn't seem to care that the vast majority of these illegals used stolen or false ideas to obtain employment, and, quite frankly, after 9/11 I would think Mr. Mikal would be concerned about who these people are who are entering this country, but obviously he is more interested in this country having cheap labor, or, as I like to call it, slave labor, so he could save a few cents a pound on produce.

I might be one of those do-gooder, chest-beating patriots, Mr. Mikal, but at least I put my country first.

Peter Stathis

Spring Hill

Sympathizing

With Lawbreakers

Deron Mikal's letter of 12/22 (Illegals...keep prices low) is another recitation of the same old endlessly repeated talking points of those who sympathize with the lawbreakers entering our country illegally.

Mr. Mikal seems to believe it is our duty to help the Mexican economy. Why? Don't we have enough concerns with our own? And who are these lawmakers demanding illegals go home? I have yet to hear a politician publicly state he wants all illegals rounded up and sent home. Imagine the heartbreaking scenes of families torn apart as government agents separate illegals from legals - it would be Elian Gonzalez 12 million times over. Only an idiot would choose this course of action.

He believes government is responsible to provide assistance to citrus and berry growers. While they're at it they could also provide assistance to the construction industry and perhaps retail stores as well during slow times. Do we still believe in capitalism and the free market here in the U.S. or have we slid towards socialism.

Lastly, this idea that the prices of fruits, berries and vegetables will skyrocket and then our markets will dry up has taken on a life of its own (repeat something enough and it becomes truth). Whatever happened to good old American ingenuity and the visionaries and problem solvers of our past. We've built the Hoover Dam, the space station, skyscrapers, turned hundreds of acres of swamp muck into the most visited theme parks in the world, but border security and enforcing the law are too hard and too expensive. Give me a break!

Bob Disser

Spring Hill

Deal With The Devil

It's interesting that John Boyle brought up the civil rights records of Sen. Byrd of West Virginia and Al Gore's father, Sen. Albert Gore, of Tennessee. I once interviewed Sen. Gore, and I did ask him why he voted against the 1964 civil rights bill. The gist of his response was that you could not get elected to office in the South if you were seen as a liberal on civil rights. You were no good to anybody if you couldn't get elected, so every Southern politician had to make a "deal with the devil" on civil rights or be replaced.

The problem with Gore's answer is that it literally was a deal with the devil. In exchange for a small amount of good, he was collaborating with overarching evil. But, three years earlier, President Lyndon Johnson had already repudiated the deal with the devil by pushing the 1964 civil rights law through Congress. In doing so, Johnson had knowingly given up the "Solid South," the guarantee of Democratic dominance since the New Deal.

The Republicans, formerly hated by white Southerners as the "Party of Lincoln," were quick to take advantage. Barry Goldwater made a dramatic flight from Arizona to D.C. to vote against the bill. Political scientist Kevin Phillips, noting the shift of population to the Sunbelt, developed the Republican Southern Strategy. Soon, orphaned Southern Democrats became "Democrats for Nixon." "I didn't leave the Democratic Party, the Party left me," they moaned as they became Republicans.

"Rockefeller Republicans" were slowly but relentlessly pushed out of the Party. Southern Democrats, scorned by the Northeastern GOP as "Bourbons," changed sides. The one party South became Republican.

Today the Republicans still dominate the South. But since racial minorities finally are allowed to vote, a two party system has emerged. Both parties are compromised by special interests but the Democrats remain the party of working and middle class Americans, while the Republicans reliably represent big business.

Mr. Boyle referred to the science fiction film "Soylent Green." The film takes place in an overpopulated world in which the elderly are euthanized. I doubt that anything so overt will ever be practiced. But conservatives have come up with an indirect means of doing the same thing. They call it cutting entitlements.

Dallas Dunlap

Brooksville

Pat On The Back

Kudos to School Board Member Sandra Nicholson for once again, voting her mind and not her heart!

While I must admit that I am pleased with the teacher's raises, I truly respect the fact that Mrs. Nicholson (whose son Michael is a teacher at Hernando High School) considers all aspects before placing her vote, even if that means that her son and his fellow coworkers may not benefit from her decision.

Thank you for your continued hard work and dedication to our schools. While your decisions might not always be favorable, I respect the fact that you stay the course and continue to maintain your integrity even in the face of adversity. Thank you!

Sharon A. Dellasso

Spring Hill